The Music
I
used a variety of music while evaluating the RBH system including,.
Bill Berry’s For Duke mastered by Ken Kreisel (of M&K fame), Keb
Mo’s Slow Down (Okeh/550 Music), The Crystal Method’s Vegas (Outpost
Recordings), Eric Clapton’s Unplugged (Reprise), Elvis Presley’s Elvis
is Back (RCA/DCC) and a worthy new addition to my repertoire, St.
Germain’s Tourist (Blue Note).

Overall, I found the RBH’s
to sound to be better than my expectations even with the post-CEDIA
show hype from our Publisher, Jerry Del Colliano who heard and liked
the MC-6CT’s in September – even under trade show conditions. Having
lived with extremely clean and open sounding Martin Logan Scenario
electrostatic hybrid speakers ($2,000 per pair) I was expecting more
coloration from a dynamic driver in a box enclosure. I never heard the
flaws I expected the hear based on my predjusices before I listened to
the RBHs.

I could have been convinced that Eric Clapton was actually playing in
my room when listening to "Before You Accuse Me" on Unplugged." Elvis’
rendition of "Fever" (or perhaps the story I saw in the National
Enquirer at the grocery store) made me think for the first time that
perhaps Elvis is actually alive. The soundstage on "Fever" and "Before
You Accuse Me" was consistently huge, extending well beyond the outer
edges of the speakers. With seven feet between the MC-6T’s the image
between the speakers was solid and full although when experimenting
with placement at greater distances this began to suffer a bit. Imaging
was fairly solid and well defined, while the soundstage itself had
depth I did, at times, have some difficulty in discerning the depth
between various instruments.

The
bass performance of the MC-6T’s without the subwoofer was a bit thin on
the lowest of low frequencies, but was still detailed and tight. With
the addition of the TS-12AP the bass went significantly deeper with
only the slightest loss of detail or cloudiness. The TS-12AP is the
most detailed 12 inch subwoofer I have had in my system to date. The
main speakers and subwoofer blended well with a bit of experimentation.
I ended up with the cross-over frequency being near the lowest setting
of 40 Hz and the relative volume a bit on the low side. Crystal
Method’s "Busy Child" has some tight, earthshaking synthesized bass
that pushed the RBH woofer to the limit. When listening to this track
at high volume, I noted that the TS-12AP could not reach down quite as
low as some of the bigger subwoofers I have tested and or auditioned.

Throughout my listening sessions the RBH system remained detailed and
composed irregardless of the source material I selected. There was
never any harshness attributable to the speakers, even at the highest
of volumes. The high frequencies were extended, detailed and slightly
forward much like you’d expect from say a B&W product. There was a
slight discoloration in the lower treble/upper midrange area, this was
most noticeable on instruments such as the flute.

The Downside
The RBH’s setup lacks a slight bit of the clarity found on the most
detailed systems. The RBH combo also slightly suppresses the depth of
some of the images specifically depending on the placement of the
speakers from the back wall. When listening to selected recordings it
is, at times, hard to tell which singer or instrument is farther
forward or back on the stage.

A potential problem is the tweeter may be a bit low to provide on axis
listening for some seating arrangements. The RBH comes with
interchangeable adjustable spikes, rubber feet and a tweeter that
swivels up in order to help alleviate this potential problem. I
overcame the problem by auditioning the RBH speakers with my new Herman
Miller’s Aeron chair which is adjustable and provides one heck of a
relaxing seat while listing to music and movies.

Conclusion
What I learned about RBH Sound and their speakers is that they are
simply well made – exceeding my expectations for their price. Aside
from the unique usage of the aluminum drivers and sexy finishes, there
was no patented, breakthrough technologies used in the RBH speakers
that set them apart from the crowd. However, upon audition, the
qualities that make RBH stand out became very apparent. The MC-6T and
TS-12AP that I had the opportunity to listen to demonstrate what solid
engineering and superior execution can accomplish.

The MC-6T’s have a clear, detailed sound, good dynamics and musicality.
When coupled with the TS-12AP subwoofer the resulting system will
easily handle all but the very lowest of lows at any reasonable (or
even some unreasonable) volumes without a hitch. The system’s tonal
neutrality, detail and dynamic range make it appropriate for
practically every type of music.